President Donald Trump escalated his war with the media on Wednesday, threatening to sue The New York Times over a report that undermined his portrayal of U.S. airstrikes on Iran as a decisive victory. The Times, however, refused to back down, defending its reporting and rejecting the administration’s demand for a retraction.

The controversy centers on the newspaper’s coverage of a leaked Pentagon analysis, which concluded that the recent bombing campaign on Iran’s nuclear facilities would only temporarily hinder Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. That conclusion stands in stark contrast to Trump’s characterization of the attack as a “knockout blow.”

In a letter to the Times, attorney Alejandro Brito—representing Trump—accused the outlet of publishing a “false,” “defamatory,” and “unpatriotic” article, and demanded both a public apology and a full retraction.

The Times responded swiftly and unequivocally. “No retraction is needed,” wrote David McCraw, the paper’s legal counsel. “No apology will be forthcoming. We told the truth to the best of our ability. We will continue to do so.”

CNN, which first reported on the leaked intelligence, also received similar legal threats from the Trump camp.

The administration’s frustration spilled over during a tense Thursday press briefing, when Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lashed out at media outlets—particularly targeting Fox News national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin. Griffin had pressed Hegseth about the intelligence suggesting Iran had moved its highly enriched uranium stockpile prior to the strikes.

“You’ve been about the worst,” Hegseth told Griffin, accusing her of intentionally misrepresenting the president’s statements.

Trump himself took to Truth Social to continue the offensive, calling for journalists from The New York Times and CNN to be fired. He singled out CNN’s Natasha Bertrand, saying she should be “thrown out like a dog”—a comment critics have labeled inflammatory and dangerous amid rising threats to journalists.

Despite the pressure, both The New York Times and CNN have stood by their reporting. As the administration ramps up its legal threats, media watchdogs warn that the tactic could further erode press freedom and chill critical reporting in an already polarized media environment.

By Staff Writer, Courtesy of Forbes | June 27, 2025 | Edited for WTFwire.com
Source: HuffPost